Baek takes LPGA title in Korea

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― South Korean Baek Kyu-jung claimed the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship in a playoff on Sunday for her maiden LPGA victory in her first appearance on the tour.The 19-year-old defeated compatriot Chun In-gee and American Brittany Lincicome with a birdie on the first sudden death playoff hole on the par-72, 6,364-yard Ocean Course at Sky72 Golf and Resort here in Incheon, west of Seoul.Baek, a member of the Korean LPGA Tour, took home $300,000 in the winner’s purse.Baek is the eig

Oct. 19, 2014

Icher claims 2nd round lead at KEB-HanaBank

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― Karine Icher claimed the second round lead at the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship with a 4-under 68 on Friday.Icher had five birdies against one bogey to move to 5-under for the tournament on the par-72, 6,364-yard Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf and Resort club in Incheon. The $2 million event is the only LPGA Tour stop in South Korea each year.The Frenchwoman started the day at 1-under, tied for 15th, but picked up her first birdie on the opening hole. She then closed the roun

Oct. 17, 2014

Kang Hae-ji takes early lead at KEB-HanaBank

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― A surprising name shot to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round at the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship here in Incheon on a gusty Thursday.South Korea’s Kang Hae-ji battled strong winds all day to mix in six birdies with a bogey for a 67 on the par-72, 6,364-yard Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf and Resort, adjacent to Incheon International Airport.Kang, who made her LPGA debut in 2009, is seeking her first victory.Lurking behind the leader is the defending champ Amy

Oct. 16, 2014

A blessing in disguise

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― Michelle Wie, the American LPGA Tour star of South Korean descent, has had an up-and-down season in 2014. Up: Wie has had two victories, including her first career major at the U.S. Women’s Open. Down: Wie has missed most of the past three months with a finger injury.As she gears up for a return to action in the land of her parents’ birth this week, Wie, who claims to be pain-free now, said her extended layoff may have been a blessing in disguise.“It was frustrating not to be

Oct. 15, 2014

LPGA phenom Lydia Ko not thinking about No. 1 ranking

 INCHEON (Yonhap) ― Even as she’s breathing down the neck of the world’s best golfers, LPGA Tour phenom Lydia Ko, currently ranked No. 3, said Tuesday she isn’t thinking about taking over the top spot yet.The 17-year-old New Zealander is in the land of her birth this week for the $2 million LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship, the only LPGA Tour stop in South Korea each year. It will be Ko’s first appearance at a tournament held in South Korea.“I think it’s going to be an awesome week, and I can’t wa

Oct. 14, 2014

Off with a bang

NAPA, California (AP) ― Bae Sang-moon built a big lead and was steady enough on the back nine at Silverado to win the Frys.com Open on Sunday in the first event of the new PGA Tour season.Bae missed a short birdie putt on the 18th that only affected the margin. He closed with a 1-over 73, the first player on the PGA Tour since Ben Crane at the St. Jude Classic in June to win with a final round over par.He won by two shots over Steven Bowditch, who closed with a 67 on a dry, hot day in the Napa V

Oct. 13, 2014

Feng rallies to win LPGA Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (AP) ― China’s Shanshan Feng rallied to win the LPGA Malaysia on Sunday for her fourth LPGA Tour title, playing a six-hole stretch on the back nine in 6 under.The 25-year-old Feng, four strokes behind Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum entering the round, closed with a bogey-free 8-under 63 for a three-stroke victory over Phatlum. Feng birdied Nos. 11-14 to tie Phatlum at 16 under and pulled away with a four-stroke swing when she holed a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th and Phatlum ma

Oct. 12, 2014

Ryu takes charge in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (AP) ― Ryu So-yeon of South Korea shot a 6-under 65 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead halfway through the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, the second event of the tour’s six-tournament Asian swing.Ryu had seven birdies and a bogey to move to an 11-under total of 131, leading a group of four players including Japan’s Akayo Uehara, whose second-round 63 contained eight birdies. Korea’s Ryu So-yeon plays a shot on the second hole at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia golf tournament in Kuala Lump

Oct. 10, 2014

McIlroy’s Masters, Tiger’s return top new season

NAPA, California (AFP) ― Rory McIlroy seeking a third consecutive major triumph and Tiger Woods making his comeback from a nagging back injury will highlight the 2014-15 U.S. PGA season that begins Thursday.Just 25 days after American Billy Horschel won the season-ending Tour Championship to claim the playoff title, the next championship chase begins with the Frys.com Open at Silverado as American Jimmy Walker defends his title.World number one McIlroy, who helped inspire Europe to victory over

Oct. 8, 2014

Europe takes 10-6 lead at Ryder Cup

GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) ― It’s 10-6 going into the final day of the Ryder Cup ― again. This time, Europe’s in the lead and it’s the United States needing a stunning Sunday comeback.Two years after the “Miracle of Medinah,” where Europe overcome a 10-6 deficit to win 14 1/2-13 1/2, the home team leads by the same score after dominating the foursomes matches at Gleneagles on Saturday.But Europe, too, know what it’s like to throw away a 10-6 lead. Back in 1999 in Brookline, the U.S. overturned th

Sept. 28, 2014

Mickelson looks to improve losing Ryder Cup record

GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) ― Phil Mickelson is certainly proud to be playing in his U.S. record 10th consecutive Ryder Cup. He’d just rather not be reminded about those other records he holds in golf’s premier team event.Mickelson has won five majors in his career but he’s also a symbol of recent U.S. failures against Europe in a competition the Americans used to dominate.Since playing in his first Ryder Cup 19 years ago, Mickelson has been on the losing side seven out of nine times. He’s won 14

Sept. 25, 2014

Hur pulls away for LPGA Tour win in Alabama

PRATTVILLE, Alabama (AP) ― Hur Mi-jung was finally able to relax for a couple of holes after matching top-ranked Stacy Lewis stroke for stroke Sunday in the final round of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic.The 24-year-old South Korean player never gave up the last-day lead on her way to a tournament-record 21-under 267 total. Hur birdied four of the final eight holes to beat Lewis by four strokes for her second LPGA Tour victory. The each shot 6-under 66.Hur was able to savor the end of her round,

Sept. 22, 2014

Hur, Lewis share lead in Alabama

PRATTVILLE, Alabama (AP) ― Top-ranked Stacy Lewis birdied the last three holes and five of the final six on Thursday for an 8-under 64 and a share of the lead with Hur Mi-jung in the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. Lewis, the 2012 winner in the event that was dropped from the schedule last year after it lost its title sponsor, had a bogey-free round on The Senator course. She has a tour-high three victories this season. “I grew up playing on Bermuda grass, which I think that helps a lot, you know, j

Sept. 19, 2014

Cool under pressure

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) ― Going up against a seven-time major winner more than twice her age, it was teenager Kim Hyo-joo who showed the calm nerves of a veteran.Kim came from a shot back on the last hole to beat Australian great Karrie Webb by one shot on Sunday and win the Evian Championship, becoming the third youngest major winner at 19 years, 2 months.The South Korean trailed the 39-year-old Webb heading into the 18th but turned the tables with a birdie from 12 feet out. Webb then miss

Sept. 15, 2014